Christmas pretzel treats are one of the easiest holiday snacks I make all season, and they only take four ingredients: mini pretzels, Hershey’s Kisses, red and green M&Ms, and holiday sprinkles. You set a Kiss on each pretzel, slide the tray into a 250°F oven for 3 to 4 minutes until the chocolate turns soft and glossy, then press an M&M on top and add sprinkles before it sets. One batch makes 48 sweet and salty bites, so there’s plenty for a Christmas cookie tray, a party platter, or a stack of little gift bags. They’re easy Christmas treats to hand over to little helpers, too, since there’s no mixing and nothing sharp involved.
Every year I set aside a few afternoons when my grandkids come over to make Christmas treats with me, and this recipe always makes the list because it works for every one of them, no matter their age. The little ones sit right there at the counter unwrapping Kisses while the others line the pretzels up in rows on the baking tray, and the only real trick is making sure they don’t eat more Kisses than they actually put on the pretzels. Once everything comes out of the oven, they all get to press on the M&Ms and shake on the sprinkles. When the treats have set, we pack them up as gifts for their teachers and their Sunday school teachers, and sometimes a bag goes to the neighbor next door. That’s the part I love most, honestly, because it gets them thinking about making something for someone else during the holidays, and as a bonus, they’re really yummy, so they get to enjoy a few themselves too.
Main Ingredients Needed For Christmas Pretzel Treats
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, jump to the recipe card.
- Mini Pretzels: These are the salty crunch under all that chocolate. I use mini pretzel twists, which is what you see in my photos, but square pretzels work just as well and are a little easier for small hands to handle. Pick out any broken ones before you start, so every treat has a whole pretzel underneath. Gluten-free pretzels work too, so this is an easy one to share with friends who eat gluten-free.
- Hershey’s Kisses: This is the chocolate that softens over each pretzel in the oven. Classic milk chocolate is what I reach for most, but every flavor in the swaps list below has worked for me too. The holiday flavors are only around for a season, so I pick up a few bags when I see them. One thing I learned the hard way: skip any Kisses with a filled center, because they melt too far and make a mess on the tray. I’ve also tried dairy-free chocolate, and it just doesn’t melt well enough for this recipe.
- M&Ms: One red or green M&M goes on top of each melted Kiss for that Christmas color. Look for the holiday bag that’s already red and green so you’re not sorting colors out of a regular bag.
- Holiday Sprinkles: A little shake of sprinkles over the top while the chocolate is still soft makes them look festive and gives the kids one more job. Use whatever holiday sprinkles you already have in the pantry.
How To Make Christmas Pretzel Treats
Christmas pretzel treats come together on one baking sheet in two quick stages, and the oven does all the melting for you.
Tip: I pull the tray the minute the Kisses turn shiny. If they stay in too long, the chocolate over-melts and spreads, and you want them to still look like Kisses when they come out.
Easy Swaps for Your Christmas Pretzels
Once you’ve made the classic version, these Christmas pretzels are easy to switch up with whatever Kisses you have on hand.
- Hugs: The swirled white and milk chocolate looks so pretty on a tray. They melt faster, so give them their own baking sheet.
- Candy Cane or Peppermint Kisses: Either one gives you a minty tray, and they look festive next to my candy cane Christmas Rice Krispies.
- Cookies and Cream Kisses: These are the ones the kids go for.
- Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Kisses: A good pick for grown-ups who like a deeper chocolate flavor with a little extra salt.
And if you want a caramel version, my Christmas pretzel and Rolo treats are made the same way.
Making Pretzel Christmas Treats Ahead for Gifting
Pretzel Christmas treats are one of my favorite things to make ahead, because once the chocolate sets, they’re done. I like to make a big batch at the start of December and tuck some away so I always have something ready for a last-minute gift. If you’re making several trays at once, rotate them through the fridge so each batch sets faster and you can keep the next tray moving. For gifting, I pack them in clear cellophane bags tied with a ribbon, usually right next to my Christmas Chex mix, snowball party mix, and Christmas cake mix cookies, and they make easy stocking stuffers too. Store them in an airtight container with parchment between the layers, and they’ll keep up to 5 days at room temperature, up to a week in the fridge, or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Questions When Making Christmas Pretzel Treats
Pull the tray as soon as the Kisses look shiny and soft but still hold their shape, which takes 3 to 4 minutes at 250°F. Hugs melt faster, in 2 to 3 minutes, so bake them on their own tray. I also skip any Kisses with a filled center, because they melt too far no matter how closely you watch them.
Christmas Pretzel Treats
Ingredients
- 48 mini pretzels
- 48 Hershey’s Kisses, milk chocolate, Hugs, or your favorite variety
- 48 M&Ms, red and green
- 2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Instructions
Prep Your Pan
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (130 degrees Celsius).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Assemble the Base
- Place the mini pretzels on the baking sheet.48 mini pretzels
- Top each pretzel with one Hershey’s Kiss.48 Hershey’s Kisses
Melt the Chocolate
- Bake for 3 to 4 minutes, until the chocolate looks shiny and soft but still holds its shape.
- Watch closely; if left too long, the chocolate can over-melt.
Add the Toppings
- Remove the tray from the oven.
- Quickly press one M&M onto each Kiss, gently pressing down.48 M&Ms
- Sprinkle with holiday sprinkles before the chocolate sets.2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Let Them Set
- Allow treats to cool at room temperature for about 1 hour, or place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to speed things up.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
- Storage: Store in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. Keeps up to 5 days at room temperature, up to 1 week in the refrigerator, or up to 2 months in the freezer. Thaw before serving.
- Substitutions: Gluten-free or square mini pretzels both work. For the chocolate, Hugs, Candy Cane, Cookies and Cream, Peppermint, and Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Kisses all work. Skip Kisses with filled centers, since they melt too far, and skip dairy-free chocolate, which doesn’t melt well.
Tried this recipe?
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A Kids’ Christmas Gift Workshop is one of my favorite ways to use these Christmas pretzel treats, where you invite a few young children from church or down the street over for an afternoon, let them unwrap Kisses and line up pretzels on the baking sheets, and send every one of them home with a bag of treats they made for their own family. I set the pretzels, Kisses, M&Ms, and sprinkles out in little bowls down the middle of the table and keep a stack of cellophane bags and ribbon at the end, so the kids can pack up their gifts as soon as everything sets. If their moms get a quiet hour at home while you do it, even better, since December is a full month for young families. What I love most is watching those little hands work, because Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them,” and opening your kitchen to someone else’s kids is a sweet way to live that out. They leave with sprinkles on their sleeves and a present to give, and you get to remind them that Christmas has always been about a gift given out of love.
Can this be made the night before
Absolutely, this is a great make-ahead treat. For Easter just change up the M&Ms for spring colores.
Will peanut M&M’s work?
Judith, great question. Yes peanut M&Ms work great. Also the peanut butter M&Ms too. Relly any small M&M will work great.
i made this following your recipe but when we tried to place the m&m on top, the kiss just crushed. where did i go wrong?
Hey Kim, It sounds like you were so close, and that little Kiss just wasn’t having it. When the M&M sinks or the Kiss collapses, it’s usually one of two things.
1. The chocolate got a little too melty.
Even one extra minute in the oven can take a Kiss from soft and glossy to molten puddle. When that happens, any pressure makes it collapse instead of gently settling under the M&M.
Quick fix:
Pull them out the moment the chocolate looks shiny but still holds its shape. It should look softened, not slouchy. Hugs melt even faster, so they sometimes need only 2 to 3 minutes.
2. The pressure was just a bit too firm.
If you press the M&M down with enthusiasm, the softened Kiss won’t hold up.
Quick fix:
Use the lightest touch, almost like you’re just setting the M&M on top instead of pushing it in.
Extra tip:
If your kitchen is warm, let the tray sit for 1 to 2 minutes after removing it from the oven. This helps the chocolate stabilize a bit before placing the M&M, so it won’t cave inward.
You didn’t do anything wrong. Truly. This is one of those tiny timing things that happens to every holiday baker at least once. The next batch will turn out picture perfect. If you want to send a photo of your next round, I’m cheering you on.